Azarenka rallies to 3-set U.S. Open win over Ivanovic

NEW YORK — No. 2 Victoria Azarenka rallied from a set down for the second straight match, beating Ana Ivanovic to return to the U.S. Open quarterfinals.

The 2012 runner-up at Flushing Meadows needed just over 2 hours, 10 minutes to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday.

Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champ, was whipping forehand winners in the first set. Then her serve deserted her, as it has before. She was broken in nine of her last 11 service games.

But Azarenka wasn’t much better, with nine double-faults of her own.

Unable to serve out the match at 5-3, Azarenka finally clinched the victory on her fourth match point. She’ll face unseeded Daniela Hantuchova, who played her fourth-round match Monday.

The Azarenka vs. Ivanovic match was pushed back a day by rain.